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Autoweek archives: A fast week in the Bahamas

Autoweek Archives for Sept. 30 includes the Corvette Grand Sport. Photo by Autoweek

From the archives of Competition Press comes a page from the December 1963 issue, which covered multiple events hosted during the Nassau Speed Week in the Bahamas.

For 13 years in the 1950s and ‘60s, the Bahamas were the place where professional drivers from around the world came to relax, race and party together.

Originally intended to draw tourism to the island of New Providence, the Nassau Speed Week became a highly enjoyed week for all those in attendance.

Of the competitions that took place, two of the main events included the Governor's Cup on Friday and the Nassau Trophy race on Sunday.

For 1964, A. J. Foyt would win both feature events, breaking the fabled “Nassau jinx” of no one driver winning both events in the same weekend.

For Chevrolet Corvette fans, check out the works Corvette Gran Sport cars that surprised the crowd and the competition with their domination over the Ford Cobras.

Dan Gurney and Volkswagen fans will enjoy the write-up and the idea of a mixed sedan and a Formula Vee race. Gurney's sedan was contested for not falling within specifications. Gurney's car did, after inspection and tear down, pass approval, and he was awarded the $1,000 purse for his class win.

Also, the three-color reprints of the Stan Petersen Lotus painting are, sadly, no longer available. When was the last time you saw a deal like that--$1 for the print with the shipping cost included in the price?